Chair lift



E. BAUMANN March 8, 1960 CHAIR LIFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1955 INVENTOR. felt 87 5A Z/MA /1 /V ATTOEA/ Y8 March 8, 1960 BAUMANN 7 2,927,539

CHAIR LIFT Filed Dec. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: EE/VS 7' 5A UMA /V/v BY 6mm w March 8, 1960 BAUMANN 2,927,539

CHAIR LIFT Filed Dec. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTOEIVEYS United State atfi fl CHAIR LIFT Ernst Baumann, Anchorage, Alaska Application December 6, 1955, Serial No. 551,327

4 Claims. (Cl. 105-150) The present invention relates to a chair lift for use on an upwardly-sloping overhead cable. An object of the present invention is to provide a selfpowered chair lift for ascending and descending travel along a cable, and one having control means operable to control the rate of descent under the force of gravity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-powered chair lift for use on an upwardly-sloping overhead cable which is eflicient and safe in operation, and one which has means for frictionally engaging the cable with greater friction when a greater weight is carried. It is obvious, of course, that while the device of the invention finds its greatest application as a chair lift, and is so called, it may be used to carry loads other than persons.

Afurther object of the present invention is to provide a chair lift of sturdy construction, one easily handled and attached to a cable, and one which is economically feasible.

..These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cable supported above an upwardly-sloping ground surface.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of an endless cableway upon which the chair lift of the present invention may be used,

Figure 5 is a side view of the chair lift of the present invention, on an enlarged scale, showing it in a position ascending a cableway,

Figure 6 is a side view of the chair lift of the present invention, on an enlarged scale, showing it in a position descending a cableway,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the frame of a chair,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the hangers for the cable of the cableway,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a base for use with one of the structures used to support the cable.

The present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 by an overhead upwardly-sloping cable 17 and a chair lift operatively connected to the cable 17 for ascending and descending travel along the cable 17. The cable 17 is dependingly supported by assemblies of poles 18 which are held in upright positions by guy wires 19 with braces 20 supporting the guy wires where necessary.

The chair lift comprises a sloping base 21 arranged 'ice ed in a bearing boss 25 carried by one end of the base 21. A second rotatable shaft 27 is arranged transversely of the base 21 along base 21 a short distance from shaft '23 and is received in another bearing sleeve 28 mounted in another bearing boss 29 carried for example on the upper face of the base 21 so as to position the shaft 27 above the shaft 23. Such positioning of the shaft 27 of pulley 26 above base 21 adds to the stability of the lift by allowing base 21 to beymore nearly horizontal while lifting loads.

A pulley 22 is carried upon the end of the shaft 23 which projects outwardly over one side of the base 21 and has its upper portion adapted to rotatingly and frictionally engage the cable 17. A second pulley 26 is carriedupon the endof the shaft 27 which projects similarly from the same side of the base 21 and has its lower portion frictionally engaging the cable 17.

Means connects the shaft 23 and the shaft 27 together for, rotation in opposite directions. Specifically, this means consists of a gear 31 mounted on the shaft 23 for rotation therewith and another gear 32 mounted on the shaft 27 for rotation with the shaft 27, the teeth of the gears 31 and 32 being in mesh, as seen in Figure 9.

Means is operatively connected to the shafts 23 and 27 for positively driving the shafts 23 and 27 in opposite directions to effect the ascending travel of the chair lift along the cable 17. Specifically, this means consists of a drive gear 33 mounted upon the free end of the drive shaft 34 of a hydraulic motor 35. 35 is mounted-upon the base 21 intermediate the ends of the latter. A fluid pump 37 is mounted on the base 21 adjacent to and spaced from the hydraulic motor 35 and is connected to the hydraulic motor 35 for supplying fluid under pressure thereto. Means is provided for controlling the flow of fluid from the pump 37 to the hydraulic motor 35 for effecting the rotation of the shafts 23 and 27 in opposite directions during the ascending travel of the chair lift along the cable 17 and for permitting the rotation of the shafts 23 and 27 responsive to the force of gravity to effect the descending travel of the lift along the cable T7. Specifically, such control means consists ofa valve 39 connected by conduit 38 to the fluidmotor 37 and by conduit 41 to the hydraulic motor 35 on the input side of the latter. During descent the engine, of course, may be operative, and depending on load conditions and slope of the lift, may provide power to aid in descent or provide compression as a braking feature in descent. The exhaust side of the hydraulic motor 35 is connected by conduit 42 to a reserve tank 43, and the latter is connected by a supply conduit 44 to the input side of the fluid pump 37.

Power means is operatively connected to the pump 37 for driving the latter. Specifically, this means consists of a power device such as a lightweight gasoline engine 36; mounted upon the base 21 on the same side of the latter as the pulleys 22 and 26 and having its shaft 30 directly connected to the fluid pump 37 which is drivingly connected to the motor 35.

An inverted U-shaped hanger 45 has its upper end, or bight, dependingly and pivotally carried by one end of base 21. An upright post 46 projects from the bight of the hanger 45 intermediate the ends thereof and is braced by webs 47. A sleeve 48 secured to the upper end of the post 46 surrounds a short shaft 49 which has itsends journaled in the legs of a U-shaped bracket 51 which is secured to base 21. Other webs 52, one of which is shown in Figure 10, reinforce the hanger 45. A chair is,

g carried by the lower end of the hanger 45 and includes fabric pieces 53 lashed to a trough-shaped frame 54 The hydraulic motor mounted upon a shaft 55 journaled in thelegs 56 and 57 of'the hanger 45. The shaft 55 permits theswinging of the frame 54 from the full line position to the dotted line position in Figure 6. A latch 58 is provided upon the frame 54 engageable with cooperating. .means provided :upon each of the legs 56 and 57 forlocking-the frame 54 in either its forwardly-facing or its rcarwardly-facing position. It may be seen then that :hanger 45 provides :a load carrying means which suspendsthe load. The load carrying means is essentially fixed at a point-located along base21, spaced apart from pulleys -22 'and26. Hanger 45 thus suspends the load using base 21 .as a lever arm to cause pulleys 22 and 26 to frictionally engage or bite the cable 17 according to the size of theload.

Controlmeans is provided connected-to the valve 39 and is operable inresponse to the swinging movement of the hanger 45 upon execution of movement of the base l l from its upwardly-sloping position to a generally horizontalposition to energizethe hydraulic motor 37. Spe- -'cifically, this means includes a push-pull flexible cable senibly 59 having a sheath 59' rigidly mounted on the base 21, the cable 61 of the assembly 59 extending slidably through the sheath 59' and'having one end fastened to a bracket 62 which projects from the hanger 45rearwardly of the latter'and on the side of the hanger 45 adjacent the engine 36. The other end of the cable 61 is operatively connected to the valve 39. The valve'39 is normally closed, and is normally actuable automatically =upon discharge of the occupant or occupantsof-the seat -fo'rmed by the frame 54, thehanger 45 will rise upwardly causing the base 21'to move fromthe upwardly sloping position in which it is-normally held by the weight ofthe occupant of the seat to a generally'horizontal position or to "a reversely-sloping position, as shown in 'Figure *5. This will cause the flexible :cable assembly 59 to open *the valve 39, thereby permitting operation of the'chairlift without an occupant therein. The-valye'-39,-if desired, -may'be actuated manually. T effect this manual=operation a manually operablecontrol means is also provided and'consists of a handle 63 journale'd on the'bi'ght'of the hanger 45'for rotationin-the direction indicatedby the arrowsin Figures and '6. The handle 63-is operatively connected to another flexible cable-assembly 64 for .manual operation of the valve 39.

"InFigure 3, it will-be seenthat the supportp'oles 18 'carry a horizontally-disposed rotatable shaft -65 on -one end of which is a 'drum 66 having acable 67 wound thereon, one end of the-cable 67-being fixed toithedrum "66 with theportion adjacent-the other end extendingthrough eyes .18 arranged in-spaced relctionalong one of the poles -18,as clearly shown in Figure 2. The part 'of -'the cable 67 adjacent the other end 67' is-normally-t-ied about'the said one pole Band is in positionforready grasping by a person. Another drum 68 is mounted upon the shaft 65 intermediate the ends ofthe latter and is of smaller diameter and carries on it a cable 69. One end 1 of the cable 69 is attached to the drum 68 and the-portion adjacent the other end hangsfromthe'drum 68;Figure 2, with the other end supporting a vertically-disposed L-shape'd support member 71, as seen in 'Figure'll, the short leg of the support member 71 projecting horizontally and being fixedly secured to a sleeve-72 surrounding and 'securedto the cable'17. It may-be seen'then that'cable 17 can be'originally raised into' positionor subsequently raised or lowered by loosening cableend 67', allowing drum 66 to rotate which'causesdrum 68 to'rotate so as to wind up or unwind cable 69 which suspends cable 17. In'Figure 12 is shown a base for the support of the pole 18 and includes a substantially fiat invertedU-shaped "member'78 carrying onits upper face a U-shaped bracket '79'having a pin-81 extending through aligned apertures in aj sleeve 82 fixedly secured to the lower end of the pole 18. Snow-gripping-points 83 are providedon' the undersideoffthemembei' 78 and together with the serrated edges of the'legs of the member-"78 serve to prevent the slipping of the member 78 and the displacement of the pole18 upon the ground surface or snow surface.

In operation, the engine 36 is controlled by its throttle to operate at an eflicient speed and operation of the control valve 39 admits fluid to the hydraulic motor 35 to rotate the pulleys 22 and 26. When several occupants occupy the seat carried by the hanger 45, the added weight will tend to shift the base 21 to a position of different slope, causing the part of the cable around the pulleys 22 and 26 to form a bight and to thereby engage greater portion ofeaohof the pulleys 22 and 26 with the cable part thus increasing the traction of the pulleys 22 and 26 upon the cable '17. In Figure-6, the-position of the chair of the present invention is shown descending a cable, in which position the control valve 39 is operated so that the hydraulic motor 36 becomes a pump and the fluid pump 37 acts as a brake to control the rate of descent, theengine 36 being shut off. Upon the discharge of an occupant or occupants from the seat carried by the hanger 45, the flexible cable assembly 59 may be 'set so thatthe valve 39 is locked in an open position permitting the travelof the chair lift thoughunoccupied about rthe cableway "16.

Although the invention has been described and-illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood thatthe same is by Way of illustration and example only and -'is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

-What is claimed is: v

'l. The combination of an overhead upwardly-sloping cable, a lift operatively connected to said cable for ascending and descending travel therealong, said lift comprising an upwardly-sloping base arranged longitudinallyo'f the pable, 'a rotxtable shaft arranged-transversely ofsaid' base adjacent one end thereof and carried by said base, a second roatable shaft arranged transversely of said base inwardly of'said first-named shaft and carried-bysaid base, said second shaft being arranged above the longi tudinal axis of said base intersecting said "first named shaft, a first pulley carried by said first-named shaft-and having the upper portion thereof frictionally engagingsaid cable, a second pulley carried by said second shaftand having its lower portion-frictionally engaging said cable,

means connecting said first-named shaft and said second shaft together for rotation in opposite directions, rneans operatively connected to said shafts for positively'driving said shafts in opposite directions to etfecttheascending and descending travel of said lift alongsaid-cable a hanger pivotally connected to the remainingendof said base, and load carrying means connected to the-lower end of said hanger.

2. The combination of an overhead upwardly-sloping cable, a lift operatively connected tosaid cable for ascending and descending travel therealong, said lift comprising an upwardly-sloping base arrangedlongitudinally 'of the cable, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of said base adjacent one end thereof and carried bysaid base, a second rotatable shaft arr'nged transversely of said base inwardly of said first-named'shaftand carried by said base, a first pulley carried bysaidfirs't-named shaft and having the upper portion thereof frictionally engaging said cable,asecond pulley carried by-said second shaft and having its lower portion frictionally en gaging said cable, means connecting said first-named shaft and said second shaft together for rotation. in opposite directions, means operatively connected-to said-shafts for positively driving said shafts in oppos te directions to effect the ascending travel of said lift along'said cable and to effect the descending travel of said lift along said cable responsive to theforce of-gravity, a hangenpivotally connected to the remaining end of said base, and load carrying means connected to the lower-endof said-hanger.

"3. The combinationof-an overhead:upwardlyfsloping a le a lif sr t s r ssessed: t sai ar tor cending and descending travel therealong, said lift comprising an upwardly-sloping base arranged longitudinally of the cable, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of said base adjacent one end thereof and carried by said base, a second rotatable shaft arranged transversely of said base inwardly of said first-named shaft and carried by said base, said second shaft being arranged above a longitudinal axis of said base intersecting said first-named shaft, a first pulley carried by said first-named shaft, and having the upper portion thereof frictionally engaging said cable, a second pulley carried by said second shaft, having its lower portion frictionally engaging said cable, means connecting said first-named shaft and said second shaft together for rotation in opposite directions, a hydraulic motor mounted on said base and operatively connected to one of said shafts for positively driving said,

shafts in opposite directions to effect the ascending travel of said lift along said cable and to effect the descending travel of said lift along said cable responsive to the force of gravity, a fluid pump mounted on said base and drivingly connected to said hydraulic motor, power means operatively connected to said pump for driving the latter, a hanger pivotally connected to the lower end of said base, and a chair carried by the lower end of said hanger whereby said pulleys are made to frictionally engage said cable according to the weight of the load carried by said chair.

4. A cable lift comprising a base, a first pulley rotat- 6 a ably mounted on said base, a second pulleyrotatably mounted on said base, spaced apart from said first pulley, said pulleys adapted to rotatingly and frictionally engage a cable on opposite sides of said pulleys and at spaced apart intervals along said cable, load carrying means connected to said base and spaced apart from the portion of said base intermediate said pulleys, whereby both said pulleys frictionally engage said cable according to the weight carried by said cable lift, and wherein said load carrying means comprises suspension means flexibly mounted with respect to said base whereby a load on said suspension means is suspended vertically, and wherein is further included power means comprising throttle control means automatically responsive to changes in the angle between said base and said load suspension means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,158 Askew Oct. 22, 1889 1,164,910 Ayer Dec. 21, 19.15 2,699,199 Huntington Ian. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,988 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1898 of 1898 9,042 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1911 of 1910 

